A swimming pool installer already headed to federal prison for tax evasion was charged Thursday in state court, along with his son, with embezzlement for taking payment but failing to finish numerous pools.

Lifestyle Pools left numerous swimming pools and features unfinished last summer as it was getting in trouble with state and federal authorities for failing to pay employees' withholding taxes. This project was abandoned in southeast Oklahoma CIty. The owner and his son face state charges. Steve Gooch - The Oklahoman

Attorney General Scott Pruitt charged Theodore Michael Zachritz, 67, and Todd Anthony Zachritz, 45, of Lifestyle Pools of Oklahoma City with one count of a pattern of criminal offenses and 11 counts of embezzlement. The charges were filed in Oklahoma County District Court.

The criminal pattern count carries a penalty of up to two years in prison or a $25,000 fine or both. Each embezzlement count carries a penalty of up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine or both.

The attorney general's Public Protection Unit investigated after receiving numerous complaints from Lifestyle Pools' customers. Investigators found that the company failed to complete pools for 11 customers even though they had paid at least 90 percent of the contract price. Each customer was charged up to $50,000.

“Fraud is a serious issue in Oklahoma, and we will hold accountable those individuals who take advantage of our citizens,” Pruitt said. “We encourage consumers to contact our office if they believe they have been victims of fraud.”

Theodore Michael “Mike” Zachritz was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison May 28 for failing to forward employees' payroll tax withholdings to the Internal Revenue Service. He also was sentenced to three months of supervised release and ordered to pay $461,363 in restitution to the IRS. U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton ordered him to report to federal prison on July 26.

Fraud is a serious issue in Oklahoma, and we will hold accountable those individuals who take advantage of our citizens. We encourage consumers to contact our office if they believe they have been victims of fraud.”